Hitting the road for Labor Day weekend? These are the best and worst times to drive. (2024)

Travel

Travelers returning on Sunday and on Labor Day "should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon."

By Kristi Palma

August 29, 2024

Road trippers beware: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is expecting busy roadways this weekend and advises driving during off-peak hours.

More than 57 percent of Americans intend to travel over Labor Day weekend this year, according to The Vacationer’s annual Labor Day survey, which means more than 148 million people.

Folks day tripping to the beach or lake can expect plenty of company, says the travel website, which predicts that more than 40 million people have similar plans and those areas will be “the busiest they have been since before COVID.”

Domestic travel is up 9 percent over last year, says AAA.

“With Labor Day weekend approaching, we urge all travelers to make use of MassDOT travel resources and expect increased travel times on the roadways,”said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, in a statement.“We’re expecting to see higher traffic counts across the state, so drivers should plan ahead and make safe choices while out on the roads this holiday weekend.”

The best time to hit the road during Labor Day weekend, according to AAA, is before 11 a.m. on Thursday; before noon and after 7 p.m. on Friday; after noon on Saturday; before noon on Sunday; before 10 a.m. on Monday; and after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, according to AAA.

As for the return trip, travelers returning on Sunday and on Labor Day “should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon,” noted AAA.

The worst time to hit the road this weekend is between 1 and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday; between 2 and 6 p.m. on Friday; between 8 and 11 a.m. on Saturday; between 2 and 8 p.m. on Sunday; between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday; and between 8 a.m. and noon on Tuesday, according to AAA.

MassDOT reports it has done the following to prepare for busy roads this weekend:

— As of 5 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 30 MassDOT will shut down scheduled, non-emergency construction outside of fixed work zones. Scheduled road work will resume at the start of normal business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

— The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will begin earlier than usual in the afternoons, at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, and 1 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 30. The HOV lane will have regular morning hours on Thursday and Friday and will be closed in the morning and afternoon on Monday, Sept. 2.

— The additional “swing lane” on Route 1A southbound at the Sumner Tunnel will not be open on Monday, Sept.2, and will resume on Tuesday, Sept.3.

— The Sumner Tunnel will be open during the holiday weekend. Weekend closures will resume later in September.

The MBTA released the following information regarding travel on Monday, Sept.2,with more information available atwww.mbta.com/holidays:

• All subwaylines,busroutes, and the RIDEwill operate on a Sunday schedule.
• The Commuter Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. 
• The Hingham — Hull — Logan Airport — Long Wharf (F2H) ferry will operate on a Sunday schedule. There will be no  direct Hingham — Rowes Wharf (F1) ferry service.  
• The Charlestown ferry and the East Boston ferry will operate on a weekend schedule.  
• The Lynn ferry will operate on a weekend schedule.
• There will be no Winthrop/Quincy ferry service. 
• The CharlieCard  Store will be closed. 

AAA reports that domestic travel costs are down 2 percent.

“Travelers taking road trips should expect to pay less for gas compared to last year,” according to AAA. “The national average over Labor Day weekend in 2023 was $3.81. In recent weeks, gas prices have remained steady, hovering around $3.50.”

Travelers can download the Mass511 mobile app or visitwww.mass511.comto view live cameras, travel times, and real-time traffic conditions before taking to the roads. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts.

Folks can also follow@MassDOTon X (formerly known as Twitter) to receive updates on road and traffic conditions or dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.

Boston is one of the top Labor Day destinations in the U.S., according to AAA.